forrestcupp said:
I think it's crazy to think it's wrong to give to charities that are helping people. But I also think you brought up a good point. Why do people think it's ok to give to charities that don't promote God, but they get all upset about the idea of giving money to ministries that are trying to reach people with the gospel?
forrestcupp,
We are not suppose to be supporting ungodly charities that seek man's help and reject God who wants to show His love, provide, protect and heal them. By supporting them we are leaving them in the same state.. dead to God!
If we believe that God is the healer and we believe that Jesus gave us authority to heal the sick, diseased, poverty stricken due to the sin in their life, then why would be commit spiritual fornication by supporting fallen man as the one we look to for healing and support their work?
We are in this world but we are not of this world. We must put our faith in God and His Word alone, mixing it with NOTHING else to receive God's glory.
But I am glad that you see that giving to the kingdom of God is the most important thing we can give our treasures to. For not only does it support the man of God's needs who has given up his life to feed the sheep who love God which shows that you VALUE your soul food, but it gives funds for them to take the gospel to all the world rather by internet, satelite, plane, train, boat we are to partner with them and are partakers of the blessings of God on all they minister, just as a shareholder of any business. We are workers for God rather we are a minister who is willing to travel for the sake of the Word or supporters. Who do you think gives the better benefits, man or God Almighty? The blessing and favor of God is more valuable than anything for it comes by receiving the wisdom of God's Word.. Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gal 6:6 says that we are to sow into the work of God for that is life. But when we show God that we are in idolatry by saving our treasures for our natural needs, thinking more of them than our spiritual food, He takes note. God is not mocked, He sees exactly where our heart is.
Here is a promise from God, It is written:
Gal 6:6-10
6
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
KJV
Let us do good to all men and bring them the gospel so they too can receive the LOVE/Word of God, then God can be their God, no longer of the devils spawn.
Axehead said:
Let's just be sure that we are not going around using the Bible to pose as "Behavioral Modification Therapists". I have a lot of confidence in the Holy Spirit's ability to lead His children. We cannot modify the behavior of Non-Believers and there are many posing as Believers in the Church. Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John_12:32 )
"One of the essential rules of the Christian life is never to ask a non-Christian to conduct himself like a Christian. If grace really renews a person; if the Christian life is already evidence of the life of someone who is in Christ; if obedience to the Christian ethic is the loving response of a recipient of grace to Him who has shown His love by bestowing grace, then how can one ask a man who has not received, or who did not know that he was under grace, to act as though . . . as though his person were renewed, as though he had experienced grace bestowed upon him, as though he knew that he was the object of God's love? The obligation placed upon him is nothing but restraint. The morality to which he submits can only be based upon the fear of punishment, and God becomes then the great condemner. That is what regularly happens in so-called Christian societies." (Jacques Ellul - To Will and To Do. Pilgrim Press. 1969. pg. 104)
"Christianity seems at first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond. One has a glimpse of a country where they do not talk of those things, except perhaps as a joke. Every one there is filled full with what we should call goodness as a mirror is filled with light. But they do not call it goodness. They do not call it anything. They are not thinking of it. They are too busy looking at the source from which it comes." (C. S. Lewis - Mere Christianity. Macmillan Publishing. 1978. pgs. 130,131)
God's house is not a welfare system nor does it resort to bribes to get people to come to God. We are not to judge those who are of the devil for their god is not our God, this is true... But we do not hang out withthem other than to be a witness, and ambassadore for Christ. We should have noting in common with these people. If you are always liked and accepted by the ungodly, know that you must be walking as they walk because if Jesus said they hated him and they will hate us too IF we are bringing the TRUE Light into their dark places and EXPOSING THEM for the saving of their soul!
If you know of one who has not accepted Jesus as their Lord, but they do not avoid your Word of truth, and they listen from time to time, then it is fine to keep coming to them for they may not be fully convinced, but they are not rejecting to hear either. But our goal is to take the gospel, not provisions.
Jude 21-23
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
KJV
Never should we return evil for evil, nor should we step over a starving man but we are not to set our selves up as their god by being their provider when they reject the message of the kingdom that we should have given them the opportunity to accept. Jesus said, those who accept you(really) will accept me.
Jesus went out into the dark places but he did not give them money or supplies.... IN FACT the worker is worthy of his wages, meaning they are to give to us for the spiritual things we are bringing to their ears. They fed Jesus, they fed the disciples, they gave to the treasury. The Word of God is the greatest thing you can give to another human being rather you believe this or not, does not matter, it is THE TRUTH! If you love the lost want to help the poor, and really heal the sick and diseased, don't waste time just bringing physicaly sandwhiches to the dead or sending them to fallen man for false healing, bring them the Bread of life! Then you will be doing something for those you claim to love.
And as you can hopefully see and receive as truth, BELIEVERS are not to sin or we are to cast them out of the holy body of Christ who KNOWS NO ONE OF SINFUL ways. I never knew you, he says workers of INIQUITY/SIN.
1 Cor 5:9-13
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle
not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
KJV
Matt 10:6-15
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And
as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received{DO NOT SELL THE WORD SO THAT ALL CAN HEAR THE TRUTH NOT MATTER THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS}, freely give {BUT DO ACCEPT FREE WILL OFFERINGS THAT SHOW THE HEART OF THE HEARER}.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And
whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
KJV
Acts 26:16-18
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet:
for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
KJV